Hair decoration

ABSTRACT

A hair decoration including a hair engaging member, such as a clip or barrette, a plurality of elongated flexible members, such as ribbon or monofilament, extending lengthwise from and each secured to the hair engaging member, and a plurality of discrete decorative elements, such as beads, stones, gemstones, beads, miniatures, and miniature cartoon characters, figurines, letters, flowers, birds, insects and animals.

[0001] This patent application is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/440,739, filed Nov. 16, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a hair decoration and, in particular, toa new and improved decoration for use in decorating hair braids andother hair styles.

RELATED ART

[0003] Ribbons, elastics and hair clips are widely used in hair stylingboth as hair decorations and to restrain and manage hair. However,ribbons, elastics and hair clips typically are used in a limited numberto restrain or manage the wearer's hair. It is rare to use many of themto fully decorate the hair. Some hair or head decorations such as headbands or tiaras provide more decoration than ribbon and hair clips, butare cumbersome and limit the choice of hairstyles. Furthermore, the useof such decorations is no longer stylish and many no longer accent anddraw attention to the wearer as desired. Accordingly, there is a needfor hair decorations which are capable of decorating large portions ofthe wearer's hair without encumbering the wearer or limiting thewearer's choice of hairstyles, and which are new and eye catching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention is directed to a hair decoration including a hairengaging member having portions thereof for securing the decoration tothe wearer's hair, a plurality of elongated flexible members extendinglengthwise from and each secured at one end to the hair engaging member,and a plurality of discrete decorative elements secured along the lengthof the elongated members in spaced relation to one another. In oneembodiment, the elongated flexible members each comprise a flexiblemonofilament. In another embodiment, the decorative elements include aselection from a group consisting of stones, gemstones, beads,miniatures, and miniature cartoon characters, figurines, letters,flowers, birds, insects and animals. These elements are discreteornamentations designed to be positioned on the wearer's head at randomlocations. In a further embodiment, the monofilament has spaced knotssecuring the decorative elements. In yet another embodiment, thedecorative elements are adhered to the monofilament. In one embodiment,the elongated flexible members each comprise a flexible fabric ribbon.In a further embodiment, the ribbon has spaced knots securing thedecorative elements. In yet another embodiment, the decorative elementsare adhered to the ribbon. In one embodiment, the elongated flexiblemembers each comprise a flexible decorative cord. In a furtherembodiment, the decorative cord has spaced knots securing the decorativeelements. In yet another embodiment, the decorative elements are adheredto the decorative cord.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] A hair decoration 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The decoration100 includes a comb-like hair engaging member 10 including a portion 20for securing the decoration to the wearer's hair. The hair decorationalso includes elongated flexible members 30 and discrete decorativeelements 40 secured along the length of the elongated members in spacedrelation to one another.

[0008] The hair engaging member 10 may be of any construction which willallow the hair decoration to be secured to the wearer's hair while notinterfering with the styling of the hair or encumbering the wearer. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the hair engaging member 10 may be aclip having a portion 20 for securing the decoration comprising aplurality of teeth which may be selectively engaged or disengaged fromthe wearer's hair by bending the clip. FIG. 2 illustrates a secondexample in which the hair engaging member 10 is a barrette or hair clip.The barrette or hair clip 10 has a portion 20 for securing thedecoration consisting of a flexible member 22 attached to the body ofthe barrette or hair clip 10 at one end and having a hole 24 on theother end which may be engaged to a protrusion 26 on the body of thebarrette or hair clip, securing the hair decoration 100 to the wearer'shair.

[0009] The hair engaging member 10 may be constructed of any materialwhich is sufficiently sturdy to withstand frequent use while beingsufficiently flexible to allow the hair engaging member to be securedand released from the wearer's hair. For example, the hair engagingmember 10 may be formed of plastic. Preferably, the hair engaging member10 is constructed of metal. The hair engaging member should have anattractive design as it partially functions as a hair ornamentation.

[0010] The hair engaging member is preferably constructed to facilitatethe attachment of elongated members 30, for example by tying them tohair engaging member 10. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the hairengaging member 10 may include holes 12 for attaching the elongatedmembers. Alternatively, the members 30 may be attached with an adhesiveto the hair engaging member 10.

[0011] The elongated flexible members may be constructed of any materialwhich is relatively light weight and sufficiently flexible to be styledwith the wearer's hair. Preferably, the elongated members areconstructed of a material which facilitates attachment of the discretedecorative elements 40. Also, the elongated flexible members arepreferably constructed of a strong, durable material which is capable ofwithstanding repeated bending. In one preferred embodiment, theelongated members 30 are transparent or blend with wearer's hair suchthat the decorative elements 40 appear to be independently located inthe hair. For example, the elongated members 30 may be constructed oftransparent or translucent monofilament as illustrated in FIG. 1. Suchmonofilament are typically used as fishlines. Preferably, thismonofilament has at least a 10 lb test strength. As additional examples,the elongated flexible members may also be constructed of decorativecord or flexible fabric ribbon, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Elongatedflexible members 30 constructed of differing materials may also becombined in a single hair decoration.

[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, threeelongated flexible members are each secured at one end to the hairengaging member 10. Other numbers of elongated flexible members 30 maybe preferable depending on the hair and hair style of the wearer. Thelength of the elongated flexible members 40 is preferably uniform,though this may vary depending on the hairstyle. The flexible members 40are preferred to be 12 in. in length, though this may also vary with thehairstyle, as, for example, from 4″ to 18″.

[0013] The discrete decorative elements 40 may comprise anything whichwill decorate the wearer's hair and draw attention to the wearer. Thedecorative elements 40 should be large enough to be noticeable but smallenough to neither encumber the wearer nor to inhibit the appearance thatthey are independently attached to the wearer's hair. The decorativeelements 40 may be selected to cater to many styles, tastes and ages ofwearer. For example, the decorative elements 40 may include stones,gemstones, beads, miniatures, and miniature cartoon characters,figurines, letters, flowers, birds, insects and animals. They may beused on a variety of materials such as metal, stone, wood, or plastic,and maybe formed in a variety of colors. Mixtures of decorative elements40 either on different elongated members 30, or on the same member, maycreate particularly striking effects.

[0014] The method of attaching decorative elements 40 may vary with thetype of elongated flexible member 30. For example, in applications wherethe elongated flexible member 30 is monofilament the discrete decorativeelements 40 may be fixed to the elongated flexible member by tying themat discrete intervals along the member. This method of attachment mayalso be suitable for decorative cord and thin ribbons. For wider ribbonsand other elongated flexible members, other methods of attachment may bepreferred. For example, the discrete decorative element 40 may be gluedto the elongated flexible member 30.

[0015] The hair decoration 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be used in manyhair styling applications for many lengths and types of hair. Forexample, the hair decoration 100 may be attached via the hair engagingmember 10 at the base of hair which is to be braided and the elongatedflexible members 30 may be intertwined with the hair as it is braidedsuch that the discrete decorative elements 40 decorate the braid. Thehair decoration 100 may also be used in conjunction with other hairstyles. For example, the elongated flexible members 30 may beintertwined into the hair as it is placed in a bun, or twisted aroundportions of hair. The hair decoration 100 may also be secured to thewearer's hair via hair engaging member 10 and the elongated flexiblemembers 30 may freely move within the wearer's hair allowing thediscrete decorative elements 40 to provide variable decoration to thewearer's hair.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair decoration comprising: a hair engagingmember having portions thereof for securing the decoration to a wearer'shair; a plurality of elongated flexible members extending lengthwisefrom and each secured at one end to the hair engaging member; and aplurality of discrete decorative elements secured along the length ofthe elongated members in spaced relation to one another.
 2. A hairdecoration as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said elongated flexiblemembers each comprise a flexible monofilament.
 3. A hair decoration asset forth in claim 2, wherein; said decorative elements include aselection from a group consisting of: stones, gemstones, beads,miniatures, and miniature cartoon characters, figurines, letters,flowers, birds, insects and animals.
 4. A hair decoration as set forthin claim 3, wherein; said monofilament has spaced knots securing saiddecorative elements.
 5. A hair decoration as set forth in claim 3,wherein; said decorative elements are adhered to said monofilament.
 6. Ahair decoration as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said elongatedflexible members each comprise a flexible fabric ribbon.
 7. A hairdecorative as set forth in claim 6, wherein; said decorative elementsinclude a selection from a group consisting of: stones, gemstones,beads, miniatures, and miniature cartoon characters, figurines, letters,flowers, birds, insects and animals.
 8. A hair decoration as set forthin claim 7, wherein; said ribbon has spaced knots securing saiddecorative elements.
 9. A hair decoration as set forth in claim 7,wherein; said decorative elements are adhered to said ribbon.
 10. A hairdecoration as set forth in claim 1, wherein; said elongated flexiblemembers each comprise a flexible decorative cord.
 11. A hair decorationas set forth in claim 10, wherein; said decorative elements include aselection from a group comprising: stones, gemstones, beads, miniatures,and miniature cartoon characters, figurines, letters, flowers, birds,insects and animals.
 12. A hair decoration as set forth in claim 11,wherein; said decorative cord has spaced knots securing said decorativeelements.
 13. A hair decoration as set forth in claim 11, wherein; saiddecorative elements are adhered to said decorative cord.